SpearfishingMap

Singapore

Asia · South-Eastern Asia

Recreational spearfishing is heavily restricted and effectively impractical in Singapore. The primary legal obstacle is weapons law, not fisheries law: spearguns are classified as 'guns' under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (GEWCA, in force from 1 July 2025, replacing the Arms and Explosives Act 1913), so possessing, importing or using one requires a gun licence from the Police Regulatory Department. Only rubber band-powered (band) spearguns may be licensed; pneumatic / compressed-air spearguns are prohibited outright. Separately, fishing is only permitted within NParks/PUB-designated fishing areas, and is banned in marine parks and nature reserves such as Sisters' Islands Marine Park; fishing outside designated areas is an offence carrying fines up to S$3,000. The combination means there is no readily accessible, lawful recreational spearfishing in Singapore's marine waters: anyone wishing to spearfish would need a gun licence for a band speargun and would still be barred from the protected and most coastal areas. Carrying a speargun in transit/luggage without authorisation can lead to prosecution.

Restricted
Betrouwbaarheid van gegevensGemiddelde betrouwbaarheid

Laatst bijgewerkt juni 15, 2026

Geldend kader

  • §Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (Act 3 of 2021; commenced 1 July 2025) - classifies spearguns as 'guns'
  • §Arms and Explosives Act 1913 (former weapons regime replaced by GEWCA 2021)
  • §Fisheries Act 1966 and Fisheries (Fishing Gear) Rules (gear / fishing controls)
  • §Parks and Trees Act 2005 and NParks fishing regulations (designated fishing areas; marine parks and nature reserves)
Vergunning vereist
Vereist
Harpoengeweer
Toegestaan
Buitenlanders
Niet toegestaan

De wet, woordelijk

Wetteksten

De exacte wettelijke en regelgevende bepalingen die speervissen hier reguleren, geciteerd zoals gepubliceerd, met een link naar elke officiële bron.

01Gun Licence FAQ, Q30Singapore · national

Type of spearguns allowed for spearfishing (GEWCA regulatory FAQ)

Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 - SPF / Police Regulatory Department GEWCA Regulatory Regime FAQ

ENOrigineel

What type of spearguns are allowed for spearfishing? Only rubber band-powered spearguns are permitted. Spearguns operating by compressed air (pneumatic) or other means are prohibited.

02Definition of 'gun' (less conventional firearms)Singapore · national

Spearguns are 'guns' under GEWCA 2021 (secondary legal commentary)

Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (Act 3 of 2021)

ENOrigineel

Less conventional firearms such as airguns, paint ball guns, electronic dart guns, tasers or spearguns, starting pistol used in sporting competitions [are included within the meaning of 'gun' under the Act]. ... For possessing a non-prohibited gun without authorisation: maximum imprisonment term of 36 months and a maximum fine of $5,000 for each fully assembled gun, up to a maximum total of $50,000.

03Park rules ('Do's and Don'ts')Singapore · national

Sisters' Islands Marine Park visitor rules - fishing and collection prohibited

NParks - Sisters' Islands Marine Park (managed under Parks and Trees Act regime)

ENOrigineel

Do not camp, barbecue or fish. Do not collect or remove any plants, animals or shells from the park.

04Fishing rulesSingapore · national

Fishing restricted to designated areas; penalty

NParks - Fishing activity guidelines

ENOrigineel

Fish only in designated fishing areas. ... You may be fined up to $3,000 if you are caught violating fishing regulations.

Wanneer je mag duiken

Seizoenen & tijdsbeperkingen

Gesloten, open en beperkte perioden door het jaar heen. Bevestig soortspecifieke sluitingen altijd lokaal.

Geen seizoenssluitingen geregistreerd — controleer lokaal voordat je duikt.

Toestemming om te vissen

Vergunning

Wat je nodig hebt om het water in te mogen, wat het kost en hoe je het krijgt.

Vergunning vereistvia Singapore Police Force - Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division)

Apply to the Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division) of the Singapore Police Force for a gun licence. Only band-powered spearguns are eligible.

Vraag je vergunning aan

Opent het officiële portaal · police.gov.sg

Vergunning vereist
Type
Gun licence (possession/import) for a rubber band-powered speargun, issued under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021. Pneumatic spearguns cannot be licensed (prohibited).
Kosten
unknown
Geldigheid
unknown
Hoe te verkrijgen
Apply to the Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division) of the Singapore Police Force for a gun licence. Only band-powered spearguns are eligible.
Autoriteit
Singapore Police Force - Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division)
Officieel vergunningenportaal · police.gov.sg

Uitrusting & techniek

Uitrustingsregels

Welke uitrusting is toegestaan, hoe die gebruikt mag worden en welke voorwaarden eraan verbonden zijn.

HarpoengeweerToegestaan

Beperkingen

  • Spearguns are classified as 'guns' under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 and require a gun licence to possess, import or use.
  • Only rubber band-powered (band/elastic) spearguns are permitted.
  • Pneumatic / compressed-air spearguns are prohibited outright.
  • Carrying a speargun in transit or in luggage without authorisation can lead to prosecution.
  • Net fishing and wire-mesh traps are prohibited in NParks-managed areas.

Speargun possession is governed by weapons law (GEWCA 2021, in force 1 July 2025), administered by the Singapore Police Force, not by fisheries law. Even with a licensed band speargun, the area restrictions on fishing (designated areas only; banned in marine parks/reserves) still apply, making lawful recreational spearfishing in marine waters largely impractical.

Wat je mag meenemen

Vangstlimieten & beschermde soorten

Dagquota, minimummaten en soorten die nooit gevangen mogen worden.

Daglimiet

unknown

NParks asks anglers to practise catch-and-release and to release juveniles and any endangered or threatened marine species. No spearfishing-specific bag or size limits were found in retrieved official sources.

Wie mag vissen

Bezoekers & inwoners

Hoe de regels verschillen voor buitenlandse bezoekers en lokale inwoners.

Buitenlandse bezoekers

Niet toegestaan

Speciale vergunning vereist

Vereisten

  • Would require a Singapore gun licence for any band speargun, the same as for residents.
  • Import/transit of spearguns requires authorisation from the Police Regulatory Department under GEWCA 2021.

Beperkingen

  • Bringing a speargun into Singapore (including in transit or in luggage) without a licence can lead to prosecution.
  • Pneumatic spearguns cannot be brought in or licensed at all.

Tourists/visitors are subject to the same weapons-licensing regime. In practice foreigners cannot freely spearfish; spearfishing community sources widely advise spearfishers to travel to Malaysia or Indonesia instead.

Inwoners

Gun licence (band speargun) under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021

Vereisten

  • Apply to the Police Regulatory Department for a gun licence to possess/import a rubber band-powered speargun.
  • Fish only within NParks/PUB designated fishing areas (spearfishing not authorised by area designation alone).

No spearfishing-specific recreational licence exists; the controlling permit is the weapons (gun) licence. Citizens and PRs are subject to the same GEWCA regime.

Waar aan de kust

Toegestane & verboden zones

Genoemde gebieden die open of gesloten zijn voor speervissen. Bekijk het volledige beeld op de interactieve kaart.

Toegestane gebieden

  • NParks / PUB designated fishing areas (line fishing only)

    Recreational fishing in Singapore is permitted only in designated fishing areas managed by NParks and PUB. These are line/rod fishing zones - they do NOT authorise spearfishing, which additionally requires a gun licence for a band speargun. Commonly cited designated areas include Bedok Jetty (East Coast Park), Changi Beach Park, Pasir Ris Park, Sembawang Park, West Coast Park, Pulau Ubin and Woodlands Waterfront Park.

    Line/rod fishing only; spearfishing not authorised by area designation. Catch-and-release encouraged; juveniles and protected/endangered species must be released. Fishing outside designated areas is prohibited (fine up to S$3,000).

    nparks.gov.sg

Verboden gebieden

  • Sisters' Islands Marine Parkmarine park / marine protected area

    Singapore's first marine park (designated 2014, managed by NParks). Comprises Sisters' Islands and the western reefs of St John's Island and Pulau Tekukor. Fishing and removal/collection of any plants, animals or shells is prohibited.

    nparks.gov.sg
  • Coney Island (Pulau Serangoon)national park / nature area

    NParks-managed island park where fishing is prohibited (the whole island is off-limits to fishing per fishing guides citing NParks rules).

    fishingbooker.com
  • Nature reserves and non-designated waters (general)nature reserve / non-designated area

    Fishing (and therefore spearfishing) is prohibited everywhere except NParks/PUB designated fishing areas. This includes nature reserves and any area marked with 'No Fishing' signage.

    nparks.gov.sg
Op de kaart

Condities op het water

Live condities

Live mariene en weersmomentopname nabij een kustreferentiepunt in Singapore, van Open-Meteo. Condities variëren langs de kust — beschouw als indicatief.

Live mariene & weerscondities nabij Sisters' Islands Marine Park.

Condities

Wie je moet vragen

Autoriteiten

De officiële instanties die verantwoordelijk zijn voor visserij en vergunningen.

  • Singapore Police Force - Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division)

    weapons regulator (gun/speargun licensing)

    police.gov.sgSingapore Police Force, Police Regulatory Department

  • National Parks Board (NParks)

    parks / marine protected areas authority

    nparks.gov.sgNParks, Singapore

  • Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

    fisheries authority (administers Fisheries Act 1966)

    sfa.gov.sgSingapore Food Agency

Waar dit vandaan komt

Bronnen

Elke bewering op deze pagina is terug te voeren op een van deze referenties.

  1. [01]

    SPF - FAQ for GEWCA Regulatory Regime (states only band spearguns permitted, pneumatic prohibited)

    Officieel
    police.gov.sgGeraadpleegd jun 15
  2. [02]

    SPF - Overview of Gun / Explosive / Weapon Licences

    Officieel
    police.gov.sgGeraadpleegd jun 15
  3. [03]

    NParks - Fishing activity guidelines (designated areas; S$3,000 fine; prohibited gear)

    Officieel
    nparks.gov.sgGeraadpleegd jun 15
  4. [04]

    NParks - Sisters' Islands Marine Park (no fishing; no collection)

    Officieel
    nparks.gov.sgGeraadpleegd jun 15
  5. [05]

    Singapore Food Agency - Fisheries Act 1966 and subsidiary legislation

    Officieel
    sfa.gov.sgGeraadpleegd jun 15
  6. [06]

    Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 - Singapore Statutes Online (primary law; automated access blocked)

    Officieel
    sso.agc.gov.sgGeraadpleegd jun 15
  7. [07]

    SingaporeLegalAdvice - Gun laws in Singapore (spearguns listed as 'guns'; penalties)

    Secundair
    singaporelegaladvice.comGeraadpleegd jun 15
  8. [08]

    FishingBooker - Fishing in Singapore guide (designated areas; Coney Island off-limits)

    Secundair
    fishingbooker.comGeraadpleegd jun 15
  9. [09]

    SWI Fishing - Is spearfishing legal in Singapore? (community/secondary; spearguns penalised)

    community
    swi-fishing.safariwisata.co.idGeraadpleegd jun 15
  10. [10]

    harpune.info - Worldwide spearfishing rules list (Singapore: illegal/restricted)

    community
    harpune.infoGeraadpleegd jun 15

Notities van de onderzoeker

Spearfishing in Singapore is governed primarily by WEAPONS law, not fisheries law. Under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (GEWCA, in force 1 July 2025, replacing the Arms and Explosives Act 1913), a speargun is a 'gun' and requires a Police Regulatory Department gun licence; only rubber band-powered spearguns can be licensed and pneumatic/compressed-air spearguns are prohibited (verbatim confirmed in the SPF GEWCA FAQ Q30). On top of this, recreational fishing is allowed only in NParks/PUB designated areas and is banned in marine parks (e.g. Sisters' Islands Marine Park) and nature reserves, so even a licensed band speargun gives no practical place to spearfish in protected coastal waters. CAVEAT ON PRIMARY TEXT: Singapore Statutes Online (sso.agc.gov.sg) blocks automated access (HTTP 403 / CloudFront), so the verbatim text of the GEWCA definition of 'gun' and of the Fisheries (Fishing Gear) Rules could not be retrieved directly; the GEWCA classification of spearguns and the penalty figures are sourced from an official SPF FAQ and reputable secondary legal commentary (SingaporeLegalAdvice) rather than the primary statute page. Licence cost/validity and any spearfishing-specific bag/size limits were not found in official sources and are marked unknown. Confidence is medium: the core legal conclusion (speargun = licensed gun; band only; pneumatic prohibited; fishing only in designated areas) is well supported by official SPF and NParks pages, but the primary statutory text was not directly retrievable.

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